DON'T RUSH THE PROCESS

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

My name is Nanda, and I’m a photographer. My work lately plays with reality and questions whether what we see is actually true.

WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL WEEK LOOK LIKE?

Right now, it’s a bit messy with two small kids + 1 annoying dog. But I love starting my Monday in my home office. At 9 a.m., when the house is finally empty, I sit down with a coffee and set an intention for the day or week. I create an overview and sometimes do a meditation to make space for whatever needs to come through. It gives me clarity and direction.

The rest of the week, I’m either in the studio or working on location. Time in nature is non-negotiable, so I need a walk in the forest or on the Hilversumse Hei at least once a week.

Weekends are for my family, but I also need a little structure (and a break), otherwise I’ll work nonstop. And for me, working doesn’t always mean shooting. It can mean looking for inspiration, observing people, or simply letting my mind wander into creativity.

HOW DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY?

I started collecting images that made me feel something. It made me realise that photographs can translate an inner experience that is often difficult to explain with words.

I was drawn to expressive black-and-white images. I cut them out of magazines, books, wherever I could find them, and covered the walls of my apartment with them.

At the same time, I started carrying a camera everywhere. I also started walking instead of biking, which turned out to be one of the best things I could have done. When you walk, you notice more, and eventually you discover what it is that truly catches your attention.

WHAT WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES YOU WANTED YOUR STUDIO TO HAVE?

It wasn’t so much about specific attributes. I wanted the energy to feel right. I wanted people to walk in and immediately feel the room.

I wanted it to feel playful, inspiring and welcoming—a place where you want to create, connect, or simply spend time.

WHERE DO YOU SEEK INSPIRATION?

I’ve discovered that inspiration comes when there is space for it. The more space I have in my head, the more ideas seem to come through.

For me, that means being alone in nature. I need clarity, and for clarity I need the forest.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OWN STYLE IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND CREATIVE WORK?

I make portraits, but I make them weird.

IS THERE A PROJECT YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY PROUD OF?

In general, my autonomous work is what I’m most proud of. It comes from my inner world into the physical world. There’s something special about taking an idea, feeling or question that once only existed inside your head and turning it into something tangible that can be shared with others.

I’m also proud of the 400-square-metre studio I run. And recently, I was incredibly proud to be selected by The New York Times for a portfolio review in New York. I had the opportunity to speak with inspiring people from leading media organisations around the world.

But perhaps what I’m most proud of is that I’ve managed to build a life and career around doing what I genuinely love. Taking pictures for a living, I mean, that’s crazy.

DO YOU HAVE AN ULTIMATE CAREER GOAL?

I’d love to shoot a cover story of an interesting person for The New York Times. And I’d probably die of happiness if my work were shown at Paris Photo.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED?

“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

It reminds me that I’m in this for the long run. I need to take care of myself, not rush the process, and avoid burning out.